UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's hockey team will open the inaugural season of Big Ten competition with a two-game road series against Wisconsin Dec. 6-7. In all, the Nittany Lions will play 20 conference games, including 10 at Pegula Ice Arena, during the 2013-14 season.

After its league-opening weekend against the Badgers, Penn State will play its first Big Ten home series against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during a Sunday-Monday series beginning Jan. 12. The Nittany Lions will have to wait nearly four weeks before hosting its next opponent when Michigan visits Hockey Valley Feb. 7-8. The following weekend, the Nittany Lions will play host to Michigan State Feb. 14-15.

After a road weekend, Penn State will close the 2013-14 regular season with back-to-back home series. Wisconsin will make the trek to Pegula Ice Arena March 7-8, while Ohio State will visit the Nittany Lions in their final regular-season series March 14-15.

In addition to visiting Wisconsin, Penn State will travel to East Lansing, Mich., for a series against Michigan State Jan. 17-18. The Nittany Lions will also visit Ohio State (Jan. 31, Feb. 1), Michigan (Feb. 21-22) and Minnesota (Feb. 28, March 1) during the inaugural Big Ten season.

Following the regular season, all six Big Ten teams will compete in the Big Ten tournament, to be held March 20-22 at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn. During the quarterfinal round, the No. 3 seed will face the No. 6 seed, while the No. 4 seed will battle the No. 5 seed. The Big Ten's top seed will then face the winner of the matchup between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in one semifinal, while the No. 2 seed will play either the No. 3 seed or No. 6 seed winner in the second semifinal. The two semifinal winners will play for the Big Ten title Saturday, March 22.

During the 2012-13 season, the Nittany Lions faced three future Big Ten foes (Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin) and garnered at least one victory against all three schools. In Penn State's final game, the Nittany Lions edged NCAA tournament-bound and 16th-ranked Wisconsin, 3-2, in overtime for its first win against a ranked opponent.

Game times will be announced closer to the season, while the Nittany Lions' full schedule is expected to be released within the next couple months.

SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS STILL BEING ACCEPTED; SEAT SELECTION PRIORITY DEADLINE SET FOR MAY 24

Season ticket deposits for the inaugural season at Pegula Ice Arena are still being accepted and can be placed calling 1-800-NITTANY Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. or by visiting the Bryce Jordan Center Athletic Ticket Office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Less than 1,000 seats remain available for season ticket sales.

Potential season ticket holders can view the Pegula Ice Arena Virtual Venue for a seats view only. Through the Virtual Venue, fans will have the opportunity to view a variety of seat vantage points inside the facility.

Fans who place their season ticket deposits by end of business day May 24 will be given priority when seat selection begins June 2013. All fans who place a deposit by May 24 will receive direct communication from Penn State Athletics regarding seat selection. Deposits will still be accepted following May 24.

A $25 refundable per seat deposit will be required to participate in the Online Seat Selection process. Season ticket purchases will also require an annual Nittany Lion Club gift of at least $50 per seat (excluding end zone seats). For current NLC members, an additional donation will not be required if your annual NLC giving is at or above the total per seat donation for your hockey tickets. At the time of seat selection, all seats must be paid in full and NLC donation fulfilled.